Etihad Airways to launch flights between Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced the launch of a four times per week service between Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong from 15 June 2015.

The new flights will complement the existing
services offered by Etihad Airways’ codeshare and
network partner, Air Seychelles, ensuring a daily frequency between the two
cities, and bringing the combined number of weekly seats offered on the route
to 3,620.

Hong
Kong will become Etihad Airways’ seventh destination in Northeast Asia and its fourth
destination in Greater China joining Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai.

James
Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Hong
Kong is an exciting and significant addition to our global network. The new
services will offer our guests from Hong Kong and nearby southern China
increased travel options and enhanced connections over our Abu Dhabi hub to 34 business
and leisure destinations across the Gulf region, Europe and Africa.

"The
new flights will support trade ties between the UAE and China, the UAE’s second
largest trading partner. Hong Kong, the world’s largest cargo
hub and Asia’s dynamic financial centre, gives us huge growth potential and a
strengthened product offering for our global cargo customers.”

The
UAE is Hong Kong’s largest export market in the Middle East. Hong Kong exports
to the UAE rose 14 per cent to US$4.96 billion in 2013.

The
additional 80 tonnes of weekly belly hold capacity
offered on the new Etihad Airways flights will open more business opportunities
for trading partners in Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong, and strengthen the current four
times per week Etihad Cargo freighter service and the existing belly hold
capacity offered by Air Seychelles’ three weekly flights between the two
cities.

Known
for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour, Hong Kong is the third most
important financial centre, after London and New York, with one of the greatest
concentrations of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region.

The
vibrant streets of Hong Kong offer a great blend of modern design and
fascinating history. Hong Kong has something for everyone with bustling Asian
markets, fine dining, high-end shopping, world-class luxury hotels and numerous
tourist attractions.

Etihad Airways
will operate a two-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 262
passengers, with 22seats in Business Class and 240 seats in
Economy Class, offering a total of
2,096 seats per week.

The
airline has announced six new routes for the first half of 2015, starting with
Kolkata in February, Madrid in March, Entebbe in May, and Edinburgh, Hong Kong
and Algiers in June.

The airline’s flights to and
from Hong Kong can be booked from today on etihad.com, through Etihad Airways Contact Centres,
or via travel agents.